The Israel–Iran conflict has entered its seventh day, with both sides intensifying their attacks, while US President Donald Trump has set a two-week deadline to decide on the US military’s intervention in support of Israel.
He has also reportedly expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the so-called powerful ‘bunker buster’ bombs in destroying Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear facility in Fordow, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has commented on the ‘personal’ cost of the war in an apparent attempt to assuage public anger.
The White House also confirmed that channels of communication with Tehran remain open and that diplomatic solutions are still being explored. The decision to delay military intervention comes amid growing international concern over escalation, while Israel has intensified its strikes and openly discussed regime change as a possible war objective.
Tensions escalated further after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, should not be allowed to remain in power, while Israeli forces increased their attacks targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently clarified that regime change was not Israel’s formal war aim, even as the conflict entered its seventh day.
Sources familiar with internal discussions revealed that Trump’s final decision hinges partly on whether the US military's Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs—commonly known as bunker busters—could effectively destroy Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, located under a mountain near Qom. Israel, lacking the capability to strike Fordow independently, has been urging the US to join the offensive and use its unmatched aerial assets to neutralise the site.
As Washington weighs its military options, diplomatic efforts have gained momentum, with European leaders pushing for a negotiated end to the war and the Iranian foreign minister scheduled to meet with British, French, and German counterparts in Geneva. Russia and regional actors like Oman have also offered to mediate, seeking to prevent a broader regional escalation.
The UK’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, where British ambassador Lord Mandelson and we special envoy Steve Witkoff joined them. Discussions focused on preserving stability in the Middle East and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with both sides acknowledging a narrow window for diplomacy in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued to draw global scrutiny, not only for its military actions but also for the tone of its leadership during wartime. Netanyahu’s attempt to link his personal family sacrifices to the national crisis by highlighting the postponement of his son’s wedding drew backlash from Israelis who viewed the comments as emotionally detached and tone-deaf.
His remarks, delivered from a hospital recently struck by an Iranian missile, were intended to underscore shared hardship, but instead ignited criticism across Hebrew-language media and social platforms.
Netanyahu’s comparison of Israel’s situation to the British experience during the Second World War blitz was met with derision, particularly as the civilian death toll on both sides continued to climb. Israeli authorities reported 24 civilian deaths, while human rights organisations based in Washington estimated the Iranian civilian death toll at 263.